Review: Sins of a Solar Empire

Alas, after several long months we have finally played Sins of a Solar Empire (Sins) enough to formulate an opinion that will do the game justice.  Read more

Late to the Party: Resident Evil 4

I know this review is about 3 years too late.  I know that every self-respecting gamer has already played this game and loved it.  Read more

Late to the Party: Metal Gear Solid 2 – Substance

It’s hard not to get caught up in the media storm surrounding the release of Metal Gear Solid 4.  What I find most intriguing about the series is how polarized the opinions can be.  Read more

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness Review

Fans of Penny Arcade have long known that this game was coming…but has anybody else noticed? Released on Xbox Live Arcade and the PC, Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness (Darkness from here on) manages to create a game that will delight fans of the comics and will make RPG fans stand up (or likely sit down) and take notice. The game follows the exploits of Gabe and Tycho as they try to uncover the mysteries of giant robots, mimes, clowns and hobos. On first glance, the games story seems preposterous…but for Penny Arcade it works. The developers have done an admirable job of creating a world and atmosphere that really let the unique humour of Penny Arcade shine through. While the humour may not be for everyone, for those that enjoy it, Darkness manages to make you laugh, which is the point isn’t it?

Many gamers will end up mistaking Darkness for an adventure game. Even those who download the demo may not get far enough into the story to realize that Darkness is in fact an RPG, and a very good one at that. RPG fans should take notice. The battle system in Darkness utilizes real time mechanics but adds a turn based flavour (Final Fantasy fans may yawn at this point…but there’s more). As you select commands for your group you are also responsible for blocking enemy attacks, which actually is a game in itself. Timing a block takes practice and it will keep you on your toes throughout the game. Like any good RPG, each character has a special attack that charges over time and can be unleashed after completing a successful mini-game. In action, the battle mode is at the same time frenetic but also very strategic. It needs to be experienced to be truly appreciated.

Technically, Darkness looks and runs great. The cartoonish animations and comic panel approach give the game an authentic comic book feel that works incredibly well. Add in some Mass Effectesque dialogue trees and the game does well to immerse you into its crazy world and ridiculous story. Darkness is easily one of the best looking XBLA games to-date.

Of course, there is some bad with the good. The cost of entry for Darkness is a bit high at $20, making it the most expensive stand-alone XBLA title so far. This wouldn’t be so much of a problem if the game was a bit longer…most gamers will be finished with Darkness after 7-9 hours. Unfortunately, Darkness doesn’t lend itself to multiple playthroughs, so once you are done, you likely won’t be replaying it. In addition, despite being relatively short the game still manages to require a fair amount of backtracking which may turn off some gamers.

The Good:

+ Fantastic battle mode mechanics
+ Refreshing humour (if you like Penny Arcade especially)
+ Graphics and presentation are great

The Bad:

- A bit short at 7-9 hours of gameplay
- Some backtracking
- High cost of entry

The Verdict: BUY IT

Penny Arcade’s first game manages to overcome a high price tag with a game that will win over RPG fans and Penny Arcade enthusiasts alike. For those who are on the fence, at the very least you should try the demo. For me, I’m already looking forward to the next episode. Let’s just hope they don’t make us wait too long.

If you want to see the game in action, check out a clip here:

Review: Lost Odyssey

Lost Odyssey is the second kick at the can for Mistwalker Studios. Headed by the famed Hironobu Sakaguchi who created the Final Fantasy franchise, Lost Odyssey is the Xbox 360’s first true JRPG. Teaming up once again with composer Nobuo Oematsu, Sakaguchi has managed to craft a game that is at once familiar to Final Fantasy fans and easily accessible to those that love the genre.

The story revolves around an immortal, Kaim, who has lived for 1000 years. While the game doesn’t take place over the span of those years, it has flashbacks in the form of dreams that help to flesh out his life and backstory. Of course, along the way he is helped by several companions and one man aims to rule the world. Typical stuff. I won’t go more into the story here, as I always feel that is something you need to discover for yourself. Not only is it more rewarding, it’s part of the overall experience. However, I will say that there are some great characters in this game. Notably, Sed (get it, like Cid from FF?) and Jansen stand out.

Despite being a traditional JRPG (random battles, turn based combat etc), a few notable additions serve Lost Odyssey well. First, it has implemented a ring system (pictured below) in the combat that requires you to hold down the right trigger and release it at the right time to achieve more effective attacks. There are hundreds of different rings that can be attached and a fairly deep assembly system that allows you to craft rings with various elemental effects or status boosts. In addition, there is now a “wall system” in place that takes into account the formation of your party on the battlefield. The long and short of it is that party members in the back row get a defensive boost relative to the HP of the front row. It serves to add a little more strategy to how you build and position your party throughout the game. On a side note, I feel it is important to point out that there are NO SUMMONS in this game. If you go in expecting to find them you will be disappointed. Rather, Lost Odyssey uses a elemental based system with fire, water, earth and wind.

Overall, Lost Odyssey can present quite a challenge to JRPG newbies. There is little in the way of a tutorial and the first boss fight can kick your ass if you aren’t prepared. However, seasoned Final Fantasy fans will likely have no problem hacking their way through the game.

The music in Lost Odyssey is absolutely top notch. Oematsu has crafted a fantastic soundtrack and I enjoyed it throughout the entire game. While it is very reminicesnt of his work on Final Fantasy, it still manages to stand on its own and help craft a unique identity for the world of Lost Odyssey.

There has been much made of the supposed 30 second load times in Lost Odyssey as highlighted in several reviews. Fortunately, this was only a problem with the early code and the retail version doesn’t suffer from any long load times that ruin the experience. However, there is a noticeable frame-rate chug when entering battles and even in some cut-scenes but neither do much to detract from the experience.

As always, the question remains, do I recommend this game? Unfortunately, the answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Any fans of Final Fantasy will really enjoy Lost Odyssey. It is essentially the game that Sakaguchi would have made as Final Fantasy X had he remained with Square-Enix. While the game mechanics of a turn-based RPG may feel a bit dated after the likes of Mass Effect and The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Lost Odyssey remains a solid RPG and should be considered by any fan of the genre.

The Good:

+ Great magic effects
+ Engaging and mature story
+ New ring system keeps combat engaging
+ Nice cinematics

The Bad:

- Pacing is a bit dis-jointed
- Dream sequences interrupt the flow of the game
- Some framerate issues

The Verdict: BUY IT

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